Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Steve Oleksy just wrapped up his college career and yearned to keep playing hockey in the summer to stay in shape.
His only option, however, were beer leagues back home in Michigan where the quality of play wasn’t as high and, for well-known players like Oleksy, the risk of an opponent taking liberties was real.
So Oleksy resolved the dilemma himself and started his own summer hockey league in the Detroit area as a way to provide a competitive hockey environment for high-caliber players during the offseason.
In the eight years since Oleksy founded Eastside Elite Hockey League, its evolved from a simple idea to one that has expanded into divisions for men, women, high school players and youth.
And the rosters of the 11-team EEHL Men’s Division is loaded with NHL talent as players from the hockey hotbed of Detroit travel back home for the summer.
“We aim for the highest-end players in the area. As we grew, more top end guys came out and now you’re getting high-quality hockey and a good way to stay in shape,” Oleksy said. “It’s a relaxed, fun atmosphere as well.”
While the main purpose of the league is to provide a means for players to stay in shape, it’s also a good way to try new things.
That’s why Oleksy, who is primarily a stay-at-home defenseman with 12 goals in his eight-year pro career, tallied 17 goals as a forward this summer in the EEHL.
And that’s a down year by his summer standards.
“I had to play a little defense too,” Oleksy joked. “I do try some new moves as a forward, and playing on that side of the puck helps me to see the game differently and understand the thought process of a forward.”
Oleksy, who serves as president and CEO of EEHL, said overseeing the league has become a year-round job. During his months playing pro hockey with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Oleksy spends his downtime working on the league and getting things ready for the following summer.
The long hours are worth it when Oleksy sees players who spent their summers in the EEHL break into the pro ranks.
“Watching guys climb the ladder into pros, you kind of feel like you had a part in that,” he said. “In the summer we’re both learning from each other and making every player better. It’s just nice for all of us to have fun playing hockey.”
Perhaps the most fun the league, and its fans, had this summer was the inaugural Eastside Elite Hockey League All-Star Game. Pro players such as Pittsburgh’s Derrick Pouliot, NHL All-Star Dylan Larkin of Detroit, Ottawa goaltender Andrew Hammond and Tampa Bay forward Vlad Namestnikov were among those to play in the game, which was played in the small Mount Clemons Ice Arena outside of Detroit.
Oleksy said the small venue was chosen so fans could interact with the players, but with a maximum capacity of 500 it presented a challenge.
Tickets were sold for $10 and some of the proceeds benefited a youth hockey club. Within the first day all of the 400 tickets were sold. An additional 100 went on sale later and sold out in 15 minutes.
“The all-star game was an idea I had for quite a while and the response was great,” Oleksy said. “We’re going to do it every year now.”
Other ideas that Oleksy has successfully implemented to grow the league is the creation of a women’s division and another for high school players. The foray into women’s hockey was a new endeavor for Oleksy, who said he was approached four years ago by several female players to start the division.
“I didn’t know anything about girl’s hockey and it’s hard to make connections with the female hockey world, so I told them if they can get the players I’ll create the division,” he said. “They got the players and it continues to grow today.”
Where the league will expand next is up in the air. Aside from a few additional camps and skill sessions, Oleksy doesn’t want to grow the league too much and sacrifice the quality of hockey.
After all, high-caliber summer hockey is the main reason why Oleksy created the EEHL in the first place.
“It keeps you hungry and you want to continue to grow it when you have new ideas,” Oleksy said. “The first year we had one or two guys with NHL experience. Last year, there were around 25. It has definitely exceeded my expectations.”
